Dynomite! by Jimmie Walker
Raised in the South Bronx projects, Jimmie Walker made his way out of the perilous ghetto thanks to an ability to make people laugh. Performing in small clubs alongside friends such as Richard Pryor, Freddie Prinze, David Brenner, and Richard Lewis; opening for Black Panther rallies; and emceeing at the Apollo and for Motown tours, he was a young, brash stand-up comedian for a new generation. By landing the role of J.J. Evans on Good Times, Walker became an icon of the 70s and beyond. The first young black sitcom star dubbed the black Fonzie his catchphrase Dyn-o-mite remains an often-quoted indicator of the era. As the show s breakout star, he navigated the pressures of a pop culture popularity that rendered J.J. into a talking doll (pull the string ). At the same time, he was the epicenter of a major controversy over black stereotypes. Walker candidly remembers the communication breakdowns on the set that contradicted the show s image of a close-knit, blue-collar family. Meanwhile, he worked at his craft, including hiring then-unknowns David Letterman and Jay Leno to write jokes for him. When the Late Night War erupted, Walker had a uniquely personal perspective that he writes about here for the first time. In Dyn-o-mite he also reveals, in characteristic bemused if lacerating fashion, the lessons he s learned along the way about self-reliance, freedom of speech (the n-word and more), and belief in the individual subjects he frequently talks about on talk radio and television. Imparting a vivid, insiders look at the edgy scene of the 70s and 80s, perhaps the most groundbreaking and vibrant era in comedy history, Walker paints a portrait of the life and times of a quintessential road comic.
Kirkus Reviews, 4/15/12 "A fast, funny and informative stand-up routine/memoir from one of the major comic stars of the 1970s..A unique perspective on the perils of modern comedy from a survivor with a long memory." Publishers Weekly, 5/21/12 "A solid, thoughtful, and provocative memoir about [Walker's] nearly four-decade long career." Spittake.com, 6/27/12"Without a healthy dose of humility, he couldn't draw such a painfully honest portrait of life as a comic on the road. Whatever his reputation, he has persevered, and his story is thought-provoking and well worth the read." Kingman Daily Miner"A dyn-o-mite read about a true pop culture icon and comedy legend...This is a fun read, a book, which you will remember, and one that might make you stop and pause for a moment as you ponder some of his pithy sayings. This is a five star book and one you will want on your bookshelf." American Profile, 8/12/12"Paints a revealing self-portrait that also depicts the changing times of a socially charged era...It's a dyn-o-mite read." Cleveland.com, 10/2212"[An] immensely insightful, humorous memoir."
Jimmie Walker was born in 1947 in the Bronx. At 22, he began performing as a standup comedian and was eventually discovered by the casting director for Good Times. He continues to tour the country doing stand-up and lives in Las Vegas. Sal Manna is a journalist who has written for magazines such as Time, Playboy, Los Angeles, and People, and newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Herald, the San Jose Mercury-News, and Newsday.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780306820830 |
| ISBN 10 | 0306820838 |
| Title | Dynomite! |
| Author | Jimmie Walker |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Hachette Books |
| Year published | 2012-06-26 |
| Number of pages | 296 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |